CNN To Air Live Presidential Candidates Forum On Faith Issues

‘Compassion Forum’ Scheduled Nine Days Ahead Of Crucial Democratic Primary

By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 4/7/2008 3:57:00 PM

CNN will serve as the exclusive broadcaster of a presidential-candidate forum on faith, values and other current issues at Messiah College near Harrisburg, Pa., April 13 at 8 p.m., officials said Monday.

CNN Election Center anchor Campbell Brownand Newsweek editor and Newsweek.com election anchor Jon Meacham will moderate what is being billed as The Compassion Forum, which will take place nine days before the Pennsylvania primary.

Organized and sponsored by Faith in Public Life, the 90-minute forum will consist of wide-ranging and probing discussions of policies related to moral issues.

It will feature Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on the same stage to talk about these topics as each candidate sits down individually with the moderators. Sen. John McCain was also invited by Faith in Public Life to participate in the bi-partisan forum, but only Clinton and Obama have confirmed.

Leading up to The Compassion Forum, chief national correspondent John Kingwill anchor live special coverage beginning at 10 p.m. April 12, and then again April 13, immediately following the forum.

Special coverage on Sunday will feature analysis from commentators across the faith and ideological spectrum. King will be stationed at CNN’s Pennsylvania “mini-bureau,” the CNN Election Express bus, which has allowed the network to maintain a full-time presence in these weeks leading up to the April 22 primary.

“Ballot Bowl” will also originate live from Pennsylvania and air throughout the weekend, bringing the candidates’ significant events directly to viewers in long-form, not soundbites.